Could You Please Spare Some Change for the 1st Amendment Equity Fund?

Today, I am coming to terms that I may never be able to vote for a “reform” candidate in New York State.

The problem really is that anyone who wants to take charge of government on any level is really admitting that they have a “screw loose”.

In today’s online world, forwarded e-mails now have more power to destroy you than anything that is written on your “permanent record”. The “permanent record” threat we all heard in school was really our first introduction to premise of an “urban legend myth”. Maybe my mom was right about the horrors of the Internet. But she refuses to get online because the “Internet is just a passing fad”. So I hate to admit that I may have to call her judgment on this one to be suspicious. However, it is a good thing for two reasons. I would have to become technical support for her. And if she ever saw what I am posting on the Evil Internet then I would be in even more trouble. My thought process (aka my humor and insight) is a very recessive gene I found in my family’s genetic DNA pool. It does have calling to it. “BAH BAH Black Sheep.”

The dilemma of our mass communication is that it has become a prime example of “supply and demand”. The result is that talk has become cheap. Not entirely though. Especially if it involves an unseen female on the other end who is willing to accept an exaggerated claim of one’s own personal dimensions. Who is really fooling who? At least with an honest unseen face.

I want to make a proclamation about the use of terms in a society with free speech balanced against lawyer fees. I want people to think about the things they reference. However, there are two things people throw out there too easily. These things are not being used to inform. They are used to inflame. So please stop using references to Hitler and 9/11. I want to make a disclaimer. I am not equating the two as being directly linked. One was an asshole and the other was a tragic event. Too many people on all sides throw these two terms about. I have seen the last five US Presidents compared to Hitler in some way. JUST STOP! These references will always be too emotional. And using them regardless of the intention can be very toxic.

I have been thinking about the First Amendment and free speech as a whole. It also reminded me about how I first came to issue of free speech and its effect on my life back in the mid 1980′s. There were a lot of groups attacking the music I was listening to. And they wanted to tell me what I should be listening to. I think this planted the idea in my head of how does some politician get the right or power to set the station on my stereo. The most famous group was the Parental Music Resource Center. It starts when tipper gore trying to be the cool parent buys her kid a Prince album. And was shocked to find out Prince was a horny guy and said so in his lyrics. She was outraged and made sure other people had to be outraged. There were Congressional hearings. And this was the first time I saw that politics was more theater than substance. This was the first time I became aware of a musician named Frank Zappa. I was not aware of his music at the time but he stood up and defended the music I was listening to. Here is the transcript of the hearing. And it can be viewed on line.

	Frank Zappa Who are the Brain Police .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

I know people went crazy when Scrabble announced they have changed the rules of the game. I check to make sure but Revelations did mention this event as a sign.

The First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

I do not want to eliminate it what so ever. Like the game of Scrabble I think this Amendment needs some additional clauses.

1. If you can take the time to speak to others. Then show some courtesy and take the same amount of time to listen.
   
2. He who shouts the loudest is not necessarily the winner to claim what is ultimately right. The Amendment does not a volume setting. In fact, the only time volume is really important is at a Motorhead or Slayer concert.
   
3. Talk is cheap. This means that how much money you made on what you are saying is irrelevant. Your sales sheet just means you may have been able to con people.
   
4. With all the major technology upgrades available you have no excuse for not changing the channel when you come across something you do not like. You are not living in a Clockwork Orange scenario.
   
5. I know we live in a time where news is more of tabloid outlet. I do not care about celebrities personal lives. I only care if they put out something I enjoy. I do not care what they do in the privacy of their home (as long as it is not illegal).
   
6. If you look over someone’s shoulder and you do not like what you see. The problem is on you. You cannot control the thoughts of others.
   
7. You have no right to NOT be offended. Once again, you control your response. Change the station or walk away.
   

    

   I heard this once in an interview. It comes from the actor Wendell Pierce speaking about his show The Wire. (A show you should take the time to watch if you want your preconceived notions of urban crime and justice challenged.)
   

   “…I also tell people who have issues with the show. And have issues with the white creators trying to tell predominately black stories. That you never lose your ability to be offended. Because that keeps people feet to the fire. That keeps people on their toes…”
   

The real power and the challenge of the Amendment (and probably the Constitution as a whole) is that it was never meant for passive people. It requires passion. it requires involvement.

I have also been listening to George Carlin’s 1990 album Parental Advisory Explicit Lyrics.

There were two ideas in the album that are still very true.

If you want to control thought than you have to control language. (Rating systems and speech codes)

Anything is funny. But it depends how you construct the joke. His example: rape. Imagine Porky Pig raping Elmer Fudd. Admit it. You at least had a chuckle.

People say they want this world to be pure. But look at what we are really watching and listening too.

The only time we really want and even demand a sterile and clean environment is in a hospitable emergency room. And yet they still serve that food.

There is a 1001 ways to cry about life on this planet. And no one seems to real do something about. However, if you find that one way to laugh about it. That is where the trouble begins. Someone is going to have a problem.

Like the Bill of Rights.

The game starts on first base. And so did every problem I have ever had with women.

It is all in the coaching.